Dah selesai potty training

Clap clap...

Dengan ini saya mengistiharkan, both twins are now diapers-free.  Selamat dah poket mak ni... hehehe.

Zehra 'Tinting' nama dia... sebab rambut curly sangat,

Adrina tantek sebab dia perasan dia cantik *bluwekk*

Still ada terlajak terlajak, of course for Adrina she's had her 'accident' every now and then... especially when she's sick.  But it's ok, I am gona give her time.  Budak- budak comel ni baru je 3 years old ponnn... I will let them grow at their own pace.  Slowly but surely.  Walaupon ada rasa nak mengamuk je asyik kena jemur tilam, cuci cadar...

Alhamdulillahhhh... syukurrrrr.  Now in the midst of cup training pula.  Getting ready for school next year in sha Allah kalau ada rezeki.

Potty training the twins

Repost from my blogmakbudak.wordpress.com

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I have been potty training my 3 years old twins for almost 3 weeks now, on a part-time basis. Well, what can I do the 'take a week off from work to potty train' does not work for a working mommy with work schedules like me.

Gotta admit that it ain't no easy job. It was too frustrating at first because I kept mentally comparing my eldest ability to quickly adapt to toilet training. These twins I tell you, are double trouble, double the mess. They do the normal stuff any potty-trained beginners would do, like pee a few seconds after you asked them if they need to go... And only tell you that they need to go after they'd done their business.

My twins have progressed differently in every single development. The second twin, Adrina was able to walk and talk first and her motor skills progressed well in most things.  However my first twin, Zehra surprised me so much... She was able to grasp the idea pretty quickly and had obediently asked to be taken to the loo every time she needed to do her business.  Both of them have had several occasions of 'accidents', up until now in fact... But what made me smile the most was how they try to clean after the mess themselves when they had that accidental poop or pee on the floor. It's so messy I tell you, I scream in my head everytime they did because it's just adding more mess when they attempt to clean.

I could never have done it alone.  Like I said, I don't have the leisure of taking a week off of work just to potty train.  I tagged-team with her caregiver who kindly offered to be part of their potty trainer.  I am blessed to have such assistance being offered.  I don't have list of 10 magical tips that'll help your kids with potty training. I can tell you, if you're like me, the training pants, the day off, did not work for me. But here are small tips that you may try which may/ may not work for you if you're also a working mommy.

#1 Patience is the key. Screaming at them when they accidentally did their business in the pants or floor will only scare them.

#2 If their answer was no when you asked that they need to go, take them anyway.

#3 Peer influence had worked really well for my kids. My first saw the cousin she is closed to consistently going to the loo and she learnt to do it too.  Now my eldest is the twins 'inspiration' for anything that they gotta do inclusive toilet habit.

#4 I made going to the loo fun. Fancy toilet seat, cute stool for them to step on themselves, and we'd race ourselves to the loo. My kids love winning.

#5 Get support from your child caregiver.  They are more experienced than you, some of them.  The kids' caregiver has had years of experiences in early child development.  I am lucky to have her support all the way.

Oh by the way, whatever you do, don't be pressured by others' success stories. Every child progress differently so don't let these type of mommies spoil your mood ya. I didn't let anyone get to me no matter what. They're your kids you know best.  My twins are not 100% diapers-free yet but I'm gonna let them take their time.  No pressure to grow up kids. Pray that all is well soon.

Potty/ toilet training continues...

Yeah we are still trying, without putting pressure on her.  It is mostly her own choice.  Whenever my daugther goes, 'Mommy, nah shishi kat tandas..' or 'Mommy, nak yak kat tandas...' We will still take her.  She decides, whether to put on diapers or not, but we haven't had diaperless situation for more than half an hour yet.  She still had her little 'accident', in fact just last night she peed on my carpet.  Yeaaap.

 

Anyway I just want to share this photo of The First Years toilet seat cover which we bought at one of the baby shop in The Curve Mutiara Damansara, just about 2 weeks ago.  Price, RM71 (originally was higher but we got some discount due to sale). 

 

The front view

The back

It works so far, it has an adjustable bracket which you can securely fit on the toilet seat.

 

It is easy to take out and put back on. 

 

With this seat, my daughter actually had the courage to get down from the seat on her own.  A bit dangerous, I know, but she feels safer I think.

 

Made from easy to clean material. 

 

Has a soft cushion seat, makes your little one comfortable.

 

I think my little girl loves it.  She knew it was for her even when we were at the shop.  What surprised me was that she even knew what its for!  Amazing, eh? 

 

But then again, as I was saying, no pressure.  I do not want her to get confused, or feel the pressure at all.  The day care starts toilet training at 3 years old, so I think it will be better then, if we really start 100% when they start.  I believe it is important not to create confusion in her, as in, heyyy why can't I pee in my diapers at home, but I can in school? 

 

Let's try this, a little at a time :-)

 

 

 

The next step... Potty Training...

Anak dah besar... dah dua tahun and she's been showing signs that she's ready to potty train since several months ago.  It is her own decision.  Influenced by her cousins yang memang dah tak pakai nappies, she always take of her nappy and told me she wanted to 'shi shi'.  

I am watching this big girl, grow before my eyes.  It's priceless.

Now dah start taska, lagi lah kan.  Most people kat sana dah tak pakai pampers.  Sekarang dah pandai cakap lagi la.  Bila 'ter' kencing dalam nappy je dia dah start complaint, 'Mommy pepes enuh (Mommy, pampers penuh).  At times, bila nak poopoo dia akan bagitau 'Mommy nak yakkkk...'.  Kalau time tu Mommy rajin memang cepat- cepat bawak pergi bilik air. Tapi tu ler jugak kekadang dia bagitau, nak shishi, nak yak.  Kekadang tau- tau dah settle project nye.  

Aku rasa dalam menangani potty training ni, yang paling penting nya adalah kesabaran, dan masa.  Sabar, yelah semua orang tau kenapa kena sabar.  Kalau anak terlepas, you can't just get angry at them.  You've gotta tell your kids, why you are, or that this isn't what she is suppose to do.  That next time, you must tell Mommy quickly.  Or, you have to ask her every now and then, do you need to go?  Do you need to go?

Masa ni yang jadi penting, bila fikirkan, untuk ibu bekerja macam aku lah.  Macam sekarang, nampak kesungguhan dia nak buang air kat toilet sebab peer influence aku rasa, so kerja aku kat rumah is to spare some time to help her.  Tu aku bernasib baik sebab dapat taska yang membantu jugak, walaupun aku saspek bukan full time.  Cuba bayang masa duduk dengan maid dulu, dengan maid yang kerja nye tidur tidur tidur.  Memang tak dapeknye lah kan cooperation walaupon dah berkali- kali pesan, the moment anak cakap nak yak bawak terus ke tandas.  Atau same case untuk ibu- ibu yang tinggal anak dekat babysitter yang tak berapa nak co-operative.  Iyelah, nak senang kerja, and taknak lah kotorkan rumah diorang.  This is how, masa ibu tu sendiri penting bagi aku.  Try as much as we can to help our child.

In terms of equipment to help potty train pulak, sekarang ada macam- macam.  Zaman kita cenonet dulu takde kot, kan?  Ntahhh tak ingat masa diri sendiri potty train hehehe.  Antara equipment yang aku aware adalah the potty itself dan toilet seat cover tu, potty chair, training pants dan macam- macam la.  Ada macam- macam sizes, colours dan designs.  Tengok pon teringin kot.

Green and Blue, cute little potty, photo courtesy of Mr Google....

Fisher Price Cheer For Me Potty, photo courtesy of Mr Google :-)

Elmo Toilet Seat Cover, photo courtesy of Mr Google :-)

Tapi kalau pakai potty tu mak macam contemplating sket kan, sebab kena cuci hehehe.  Unless Mr Hubby Ah Bob bersedia untuk buat perjanjian :p.  Kalau toilet seat cover tu, aku tau dia memang agree.  Tapi sekarang ni kitorang tak beli apa- apa lagi.  Akibat kemabukan terlampau aku lom la gi cuci mata lagi to get the equipment to assist my daughter.  For now, she prefers sitting on the toilet seat, with our assistance, of course.  But she doesn't seem to be afraid of the big hole.  One brave girl I must say, which had me thinking for a while, maybe she's all grown up she doesn't need any additional equipment to help her.  But then, of course, safety should be considered all the time.

Having said all these, I have never pressured my daughter to potty train too quickly.  I let her decide if she is ready.  I know the pressure should be greater, later of course when we have the twins (InshaAllah).  There will be additional expenses if 'Kakak' (that's what she calls herself now) is still wearing diapers.  But its OK, honey, Mom and Dad can still afford to pay for all three of you :-) .  Take all the time you want.  But of course, if this is what Ayesha wants, you have my full support.